Dry pipe sprinkler system



May 25, 1943. A. c. RowLEY 2,320,305

DRY PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTEM Filed Nov.-` '7, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 1 i* W Q e"l J l N i May 25 1943 l A. c. ROWLEY v 2,320,305

DRY PIPE SPR-INKLYER SYSTEM Filed Nov. 7, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 25, 1943.

A. c. RQWLEY DRY PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTEM 4 sheets-sheet 3 May 25, 1943. A. c. ROWLEY 2,320,305

DRY PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTEM Filed Nov. 7, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May Z5, 1943 DRY PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTEM Arthur C'. Rowley, Drexel Hill, Pa., assigner to Globe Automatic Sprinkler Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 7, 1941, Serial No. 418,246

(Cl. 169-17l 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic dry pipe sprinkler systems, and a principal object of the invention is to provide an improved system of control operating to reduce to a practical minimum the time lapse between the opening of one or more of the sprinkler heads and the passage to said heads of the water or other fire-extinguishing medium.

More specically, an object of the invention is to provide a control system including means for automatically replenishing the dry pipe system with air lost through leakage, together with improved means for accelerating the operation of the sprinkler system when one or more of the sprinkler heads opens.

The invention further resides in certain details of structure and assembly hereinafter described and illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating a control apparatus made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the circuit closer which forms one element of the control apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the circuit closer;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections on the line 4 4, Fig. 3;

Fig'. 6 is a section on the line B-J, Fig, 3;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line '1 -"I, Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical system controlled by the circuit closer illustrated in Figs. 2 to 7, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional View through the restricted orice mechanism 'hereinafter described.

With reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, I is a water main, 2 a dry pipe system, and 3 a dry pipe valve interposed in conventional manner between the water main I and the pipe system 2. The valve 3, see also Fig. 8, is in the present instance of the type disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,036,433, and is provided with an electrically-actuated valve 4 which constitutes an element of an accelerator device, as set forth in said patent. The structural and functional characteristics of the valves 3 and 4 are fully disclosed in the aforesaid U. S. patent.

The control apparatus which forms the subject of the present invention comprises in combination an air compressor 5, which in the present instance is actuated by an electric motor 6; a capacity tank 'I, which also functions as an Oil filter; a restricted orifice valve 8; a pressure-actuated double circuit contact switch or circuit closer 9; a timing relay I0; and the electrically-actuated valve 4 mentioned above.

The pressure-actuated circuit closer 9 is in communication with the dry pipe system 2 through a pipe II, and is, therefore, subject to the air pressure within said system. This circuit closer comprises two make-and-break con tact switches, I2 and I3 respectively (Fig. 8), which normally (when the pressure in the dry pipe system is at the desired maximum) are open and which are adapted t0 close under dif fering conditions within the dry pipe system. Thus the switch I2 will close automatically when the air in the dry pipe system drops to a predetermined point due to slow leakage, as a result, for example, of defects in the pipe joints, valve seats or the like, and will when closed complete an electrical circuit including the compressor motor 6 so as to operate the compressor and thereby reestablish the desired normal pressure within the dry pipe system. The switch I3 will close automatically when the pressure in the dry pipe system drops further as a result of the opening of a sprinkler and when the intake from the compressor is not sufcient to compensate for the loss of pressure through the open sprinkler. This switch I3 completes a circuit independent of the compressor circuit and in cluding the electrically-actuated valve 4, and will result in the opening of this valve, thereby accelerating the operation of the dry pipe valve 3 for quick delivery of water to the dry pipe system, all as described in the aforesaid U. S. Patent No. 2,086,438. The retarded or timing relay, Il), is associated with the aforesaid circuit controlled by the switch I3, and is inserted in the circuit between the said switch and the valve 4. This relay is adapted to break the circuit of the valve 4 after the said valve has remained open for a sufficient length of time to perform its function in accelerating the operation of the dry pipe valve 3, whereupon the valve 4 will again close and will remain closed until the operating cycle is repeated.

The structural details of the circuit closer 3 are illustrated in Figs. 2 to 7, inclusive. The de* vice comprises a housing I4 having in the bottom thereof a chamber I5 which is connected with the pipe II. The top wall of the chamber I5 is formed by a flexible diaphragm I6, and this diaphragm is subjected to the pressure of a spring II. The spring I'I is confined at its upper end by a nut i8 on a stud I9 supported in the housing I4. The lower end of the spring seats within a washer 20 which embraces the housing through the medium of a pivot rod 28.

The two arms 21a are connected by a cross bar 29 so that they move as a unit about the pivot 28, and the lever further comprises an arm which extends upwardly from one rof the arms 21a and which is pivotally connected at its upper end to a link 3l. The free end of the link 3| carries a grooved roller` 32 which is positioned for engagement with the upper end of a lever 33 pivotally secured at 34 to the housing, see Fig. 5. A spring 35 has its lower end attached to the arm 38 and its upper end to a saddle 36 which seats upon the link 3l whereby the spring is operative to exert a resilient force tending to draw the lever `3l downwardly so that the roller 32 bears upon the upper edge of the lever 33. The lower end of the lever 33 is recessed for reception of a pin 31 on an arm 38 which is pivotally attached at 39 to the housing I 4. The arm 33 is pivotally connected at 4l) with an arm 4I, and the other end of the arm 4I is pivotally connected to a pair of levers 42 and 43, these levers being pivotally connected together by a pin 44, which pin also attaches the arm 4I to the said levers. The levers 42 and 43 are pivotally mounted at 45 and 45 respectively upon the housing I4, and it will be noted that the two arms 38 and 4I constitute the two arms of a toggle, as also do the levers 42 and 43 to which the arm 44! is connected as described above.

When the roller 32 of the spring-pressed arm 3l bears upon the upper inclined edge of the arm 33, as shown in Fig. 5, the arm 33 is held, indirectly by tension of the spring 35, in the position shown, in which the toggles 38-4I and 42 and 43 are broken. In this position of the members, it will be noted that the diaphragm I5 is in an elevated position which it would assume, for example, if the pressure in the dry pipe system is at a normal maximum. dry pipe system the diaphragm I 6 is permitted to drop, as shown, for example, in Fig. 4, the resulting downward movement of the washer 20 would cause the lever 21 to swing in a counterclockwise If by reason of falling pressure in the direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, around its pivot support 28, thereby moving the link 3l at the top of the lever arm 36 to the left and into the position in which the roller 32 engages the upper transverse arm 41 of the lever 42, this arm 41 being in alignment with the arm 33 and, therefore, in position to receive the roller 32. Pressure of the spring 35 acting now upon the arm 41 of the lever 42 causes that lever to move in a clockwise direction, straightening out the toggle 42--43 and also the toggle `Ai-4L as shown in Fig. 4. Any subsequent upward movement of the diaphragm I6 will cause a reversal of the movements vdescribed above and a return of the roller 32 to the inclined upper edge of the lever 33, said lever thereby being actuated bythe spring 35 to break the toggle 38-4I and consequently the toggle 42-43 so that the parts are returned to their original positions, as shown in Fig. 5.

To the housing I 4 is secured an insulating plate 43, and this plate carries a relatively xed element 49 of an electric switch, the other element 50 of which is secured to an insulator block 5I on the lever 43. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5, the movable switch element 5I) is retracted from the element 4S, and the circuit of which this switch forms a part is, therefore, broken. When, however, the parts are moved as described above to the position shown in Fig. 4, the switch element 59 is brought into engagement with the element 49 and the circuit is thereby completed.

Extending upwardly from the cross member 29 of the lever 21 at the opposite side of the latter from the arm 3l! is an arm 52. Adjustably secured in the upper end of this arm is a plunger 53 which is in alignment with a pin 54 slidably mounted in the cover 55 of a switch housing 56 secured to the housing I4 (Fig. 6). The pin 54 is arranged for engagement with a movable switch element 51 in the casing 55, which element coacts with a relatively xed element 58. Normally a spring 5S holds the element 51 out of engagement with the element 58, but inward pressure upon the slide pin 54 causes the latter by engagement with the element 51 to move the latter into engagement with the contact 58, as shown in Fig. 6.

When the lever 21 is in either ofthe positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the plunger 53 will be retracted from the pin 54, and the switch element 51 will also be retracted from theswitch element 58. If, however, the diaphragm I6 moves downwardly beyond the point shown in Fig. 4 to any i 58 to close the electrical circuit of which theseV elements form a part.

It will be apparent, therefore, that when the pressure in the dry pipe system is normal, the two switches I2 4and I3 will be open. If the pressure in the system falls gradually by reason of leakage to the point where the diaphragm assumes the position shown in Fig. 4, the switch l2 will be closed, while the switch I3 still remains open. Further downward movement of the diaphragm I6, by reason of further drop in pressure in the dry pipe system, will result in the closing of the switch I3.

As previously set forth, the switch I2 is connected in a circuit which includes the motor 6 of the compressor 5. T his circuit is shown in Fig. 8 as consisting of the wires 50, 6I, 52, 63 and 64. The switch I3 also as previously described is included in a circuit which contains an electrical actuator 4a for the valve 4, this circuit including the wire 6I), the switch I2, a wire 65, a switch 66 and wires 61, 68 and B4. The switch 66 is closed through the medium of an electrical actuator 69 which includes a solenoid 10, and this solenoid is contained in a shunt circuit extending between the wires 65 and 64 and including the relay switch Ilia. The relay switch Ia is actuated through an electromagnet 1I which is contained in a shunt circuit also extending between the wires 65 and 54, all as shown in Fig. 8. When, therefore, the switch I3 is closed, the immediate effect is to energize the solenoid 10 and to thereby close the switch 66, energization ol the solenoid 10 being made possible by the normally closed relay switch Illa. The closing of the switch 66 energizes the electrical actuator 4d of the valve 4, and by elevating the movable valve element from its seat opens this valve. The valve remains open until the delayed action of the relay I causes the relay switch Ia to open, whereupon the solenoid 10 is deenergized, the actuator 69 released, and the switch 66 permitted to open, thus breaking the circuit of the valve actuator 4a, and again closing the valve 4. The valve 4, however, has remained open sufficiently long to permit it to function in its accelerator capacity, as fully described in the aforesaid U. S. Patent No. 2,086,438.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 that the pin 40 which connects the arms 38 and 4I of the circuit closer 9 projects through a slotted opening 12 in the wall of the housing I4. Extending into the path of the projecting end of the pin 48 is a lever 13 which is pivotally supported between arms 14 on a valve housing 15 secured to the side of the housing i4. The lever 13 is in alignment and is adapted for engagement with a plunger 16 (Fig. 7) slidably mounted in and projecting from the one end of the housing 15. The inner end of this plunger 16 engages the end of a valve element 11, which is also slidably mounted in the housing 15 and is urged towards a seating position by means of a spring 18` The valve element 11 has a conical tip 19 which is adapted to seat in a correspondingly shaped aperture 80 in the valve casing, thereby to break connection between the two ports 8| and 82 in the housing. The body of the valve 11 is polygonal in form and is supported in a cylindrical bore 83, so that when the valve is retracted against the `action of the spring 18 by the plunger 16, as shown in Fig. 7, there is a free passage for fluid from the port 8l to the port 82. When, however, the valve 11 is seated, this flow is interrupted.

The port 8| is connected through a pipe 84 with the pipe 85, which extends from the compressor and tank 1 to the pipe I I, and thence to the dry pipe system, it being noted that the pipe 85 contains a check valve 88, which permits flow through this pipe to the pipe I I, but precludes a ilow in the reverse direction. When the parts of the circuit closer 9 are positioned as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 2, which positions are occupied when the pressure in the dry pipe system is at the desired normal maximum, the pin 48 will occupy a position as shown in Fig. 2, forcing the lever 13 into a position in which it operates through the plunger 16 to unseat the valve 11, as shown in Fig. 7. Under these circumstances, there is a free passage `for air from the tank 1 through the pipes 85 and 84, and through the ports 8I and 82 of the valve housing 15 to the atmosphere, so that any pressure in these parts will be relieved. If, however, the pressure in the dry pipe system falls, requiring an additional supply from the compressor 5, the parts of the circuit closer will assume the positions shown in Fig. 4 and will release the lever 13 and permit the spring 18 to seat the valve 11. This permits a normal operation of the compressor system in replenishing the pressure in the dry pipe lines. By .reason of this automatic relief of back pressure in the air line, the compressor may start under zero load when replenishment of the air in the system is required.

The restricted orice valve 8 which is located in the air duct 85, as shown in Fig. l, is best illustrated in Fig. 9. The movable element 81 may be elevated manually from its seat 88 by means of a plunger rod 89 which extends through a suitable packed joint in the bottom of the valve casing. The valve element 81 is shown in Fig. 9

i restricted orii'lce 98.

in the elevated or unseated position. The valve 81 has a restricted passage 90 therein which when the valve is seated provides a restricted passage for air through the valve. In the upper chamber 9I of the valve housing 1s a Sylphon bellows 92 which is connected to a plunger 93 slidable ver tically in the chamber 9I and urged downwardly by a spring 94. Fluid pressure may pass to the interior of the bellows 92 through clearance between the stern 95 of the valve 81 and its guide 96 in the housing. When the member 93 is depressed as illustrated in Fig. 9, the inclined face 91 thereof acts upon a plurality of balls 98 which are supported at the top of the guide 96 to force these balls inwardly into an annular recess 99 in the upper end of the valve stem 95, whereby the balls function to retain the valve 81 in an elevated position. If the pressure in the valve case becomes sufficiently high to expand the Sylphon 92 and thereby elevate the plunger 93 against the pressure of the spring 94, the balls 98 will be free to move outwardly and permit the spring |00 to move the valve 81 downwardly to its seat 88. While the plunger 93 is elevated, it is apparent that it will be impossible for the balls 98 to function to retain the valve 81 in an elevated position.

When the system is originally charged with air, or is being recharged after operation of the sprinkler system, the valve 81 is adjusted by plunger 89 to the elevated position as illustrated in Fig. 9. This provides a large opening past the valve through which air may be supplied rapidly to the system from the compressor to establish or reestablish the system in serviceable condition. Before the pressure in the system reaches normal, the Sylphon will be actuated to automatically return the valve to its seat, thereby conning the airow to the restricted passage 98. This precludes the possibility of air being supplied to the system, after opening ol a sprinkler, at a rate suilciently rapid to materially retard the operation of the accelerator and the dry pipe valve.

If it be assumed that the required normal pressure in the dry pipe system is sixteen pounds, the Sylphon 92, and the spring 94, might be adjusted or calibrated to expand or give at a pressure of thirteen pounds. Thus in initially lling the system with air the valve 81, opened manually, will remain open until the back pressure in the pipe reaches thirteen pounds. at which time the valve will close and the remaining air required to bring the system to the normal sixteen-pound pressure will then pass to the system through the When the system reaches the required sixteen-pound pressure, the operation of the compressor is automatically interrupted, this by reason of the elevation of the diaphragm I6 and resulting opening of the compressor control switch I2 as previously described, and the bleeder valve 11 opened to exhaust the air from the tank 1 and from the pipe 85 up to the check valvel 86, the latter valve retaining the pressure within the dry pipe system. If now a sprinkler opens, thereby automatically starting the compressor, the oriiice valve would prevent the air from passing to the system except at a relatively slow rate far below the rate of pressure loss through the sprinkler.

It would be possible, after bleeding of the supply line and tank 1, to open the restricted orice valve by pushing up the plunger 89, and the valve would then remain open until such time as the back pressure within the pipe 85 again reached thirteen pounds. Should the air pressure in the system drop to the extent of. approximatelyone andorre-half pounds dliefto leakage',v ,the ,air 'compressor will be.'.autoinaticallyfstartedr and will de'- veloppressfure in the capacity'tank'land in the air inle'tfline 85 un-til ythe backl pressure in these parts rises to approximately fourteen and onehalf pounds,at which time air will be forced through the check valve 85 into the system. When the said back pressure has reached thirteen pounds, however, the valve 8"! will be automatically closed so that the .actual feeding of the air to the system is necessarily by way of the restricted port 9G ofthe valve 81.

It is to be 'noted further that there is a time delay or lag after the ycompressor starts to'develo-p pressure in the air inlet line by reason of the presence therein of the tank 'Il In the event of a sprinkler opening, this delay permits the pressure in the system to dropto a point, say approximately thirteen pounds, Where the accelerator-operates and delivers water to the system piping before the air compressor. can develop suiiicient pressure in thefair supply line to react against t e falling pressure in the system. This isan additional safeguard against any condition that might tend to retard the operation of the accelerator or the opening of the dry pipe valve after the opening of one or more of the sprinklers.

I claim:

1. In a dry pipe sprinkler system comprising a dry pipe valve and means responsive to system -pressure for expediting the operation of said valve, mechanism for supplying air to said system, control means for said mechanism responsive to system pressure, and means also responsive to system pressure-for regulating the rate of saidsupply.

2. In a dry pipe sprinkler system comprising a dry pipe valve and means responsive to system pressure for expediting the operation of said valve, mechanism for supplying air to said system, control means for said mechanism responsive to system pressure, a normally-seated restricted orice valve for regulating the rate of said supply, means for unseating the valve to increase the supply rate, and means releasable by a predetermined pressure in the system for retaining the valve in unseated position.

3. In a dry pipe sprinkler system comprising a dry pipe valve and means responsive to system pressure for expediting the operation of said valve, mechanism for supplying air to said system, control means for said mechanism responsive to system pressure, a normally-seated restricted orice valve for regulating the rate of said supply, means for unseating the valve, means for retaining the valve in unseated position and means responsive to system pressure for releasing said retaining means.

4. In a dry pipe sprinkler system comprising a dry pipe valve and means responsive to system pressure for expediting the operation of said valve, mechanism for supplying air to said system, control means for said mechanism responsive to system pressure, and means for regulating the rate of said supply, said regulating means comprising a normally-seated restrictedoriiice valve, means for unseating the valve, and means releasable by predetermined back pressure of the air on the supply mechanism for retainingr the valve in unseated position.

A5. In a dry pipe sprinkler system comprising a dry pipe valve and means responsive to system pressure for expediting the operation of said valve, mechanism including a connecting pipe line for supplying air to said system, a check valve in the line intermediate the system and the supply mechanism, a tank connected to the line between the check valve and said mechanism, and means responsive to the said system pressure for exhausting said tank to atmosphere.

6. In a dry pipe sprinkler system comprising a dry pipe valve and means responsive to system pressure for expediting the operation of said valve, mechanism including a connecting pipe line for supplying air to said system, means responsive to system pressure for actuating said mechanism when the said pressure drops below normal and for interrupting the operation of the mechanism when the said normal pressure is established, a check valve in said line intermediate the system and the supply mechanism, a tank connected to the line between the check valve and said mechanism, and means responsive to said system pressure for exhausting the tank to atmosphere when said normal pressure has been established.

7. In a dry pipe sprinkler system comprising a dry pipe valve and means responsive to system pressure for expediting the operation of said valve, mechanism for supplying air to said system, and control means for said mechanism and for the said expediting means, said control means comprising a common element responsive to system pressure, an actuator for said mechanism, an actuator for said expediting means, and transmission ,means operatively connecting the respective actuators with said pressure responsive element.

8. In a dry pipe sprinkler system comprising a dry pipe valve and means responsive to system pressure for expediting the operation of said valve, mechanism for supplying air to said system, control means for said mechanism and the said expediting means, said control means v comprising an element responsive to system pressure and actuators for said mechanism and expediting means each operatively connected to the said pressure responsive element, one of said actuators being operated by an initial small movement of said element due to reduction of pressure in the system for actuating said mechanism only, and the other being operated by a greater movement of the element in the same direction for actuating said expediting means.

9. In a dry pipe sprinkler system comprising a dry pipe valve and an accelerator for said valve responsive to system pressure, mechanism for supplying air to said system, and control means for said mechanism and said-accelerator, said control means comprising an element responsive to system pressure and electric switch actuators for said mechanism and accelerator each operatively connected to said pressure responsive element, one of said switch actuators being closed by an initial movement of said element due to reduction of pressure in the system, and the other of said switch actuators being closed by a greater movement of the element in the same direction.

ARTHUR C. ROWLEY. 

